Department of Applied Sciences PhD presentations

Friday 11 March 2016 1:55pm

Postgraduates and their partnered businesses were the focus of a recent day at the Department of Applied Sciences.

HOD Professor Raechel Laing says the Postgraduate Student Day not only celebrated the work of the students, but publicly acknowledged the wide range of individuals and external groups who make their research possible.

Students gave short presentations throughout the day on their research, which varied from typographic art in the late 1800s, to textile drug delivery to aid in healing venous leg ulcers in elderly people.

The day was also attended by many of the manufacturers, organisations and companies the students work with, ranging from Dunedin company Silkbody, to an assistant professor from the University of Helisinki, Finland (formerly from the School of Pharmacy, University of Otago).

"Partners we couldn't manage without..."

Prof Laing says the Department has “long-standing arrangements with external groups (manufacturers and funding partners) across New Zealand, who we couldn’t manage without”.

“The day allows us to thank them, and for them to learn first-hand what we are achieving.”

It is also a day for connections, as students get to hear about each other’s work, and companies learn about the work of researchers.

“We have two masters students, for example, using their backgrounds in Pharmacology and Clothing and Textile Sciences, who are working on the delivery of drugs using fabrics. On the day, this inspired great interest from an outside company which is now investigating further developments and adaptations.”

Professor Laing notes that the day demonstrates the Department meeting current aspirations of Government, with industries accessing resources by engaging with universities.

An e-newsletter for people interested or involved in postgraduate study at the University of Otago